The Voice - Match preview #15: Fleetwood Town vs Bradford City Saturday 9th November 2024 3:00pm

In the first half Bobby was lost. He has no pace and not a wide player. However, he can track back, keep hold of the ball and spot a pass before he receives a ball. 2nd half yesterday, he ran the show, pity he was the only one to give their goalie something to do.

 

But what if we don't have a club to follow.
Where will our ultras congregate ?

 

Unfortunately a lot of our fanbase cannot grasp that theory.

 

We're in an odd spot.

Regardless of what people might say after a couple of losses, there's still a chance we get promoted this season.

And yet I'm starting to worry about that.

If we go up, we almost certainly go up as the worst promotion winner - the play off team, the one that couldn't get into the autos at any stage all season, and that's not negativity, that's the only shot we've got.

At the same time, there's no point ripping into the players or GA even though we can see them for what they are, warts and all. There's also no point throwing in the towel on the season, as some of those people (players or staff) might not be here come the end of the season.

But yeah. If we don't go up, that's an unmitigated disaster. If we do go up, I'm worried we could be the whipping boys of League One. We're just not showing anything. We've ridden on Cook's coattails for three seasons running. A lot of people blamed Hughes for the fact Cook was the only player that could score, but it's happening all over again with a completely different playing style. We haven't managed to get enough goals into other areas of the pitch, and our defence has gotten worse under GA. You can't go into a League One season championing a 35 year old forward - and yet, no sign of serious forward planning or investment. It's like we don't expect to go up, if we do it will be nice, but no sense worrying about it until it happens.

Yuck.

 

Is that a typo at the end Jon?

 

Agree on Pointon. But harsh on Lewis Richards. Who played well.

In fact he always plays well, I do wonder why the hell he kept starting Wright when Richards is a better defender, better at crossing, doesn't give the ball away....

The start was awful and the lineup was strange. Why bring in Huntington and not play him? He also shoe horned Halliday in. I can understand that, but Brad is way off form this season and probably needs a break for a while.

I'm not about to start shouting for GA out. Because that doesn't work, how many managers all with different ways of playing do we go through?

GA has shown he can get results, but as a few alluded to above he needs to stick to what works.

Feel sorry for Vadaine. First league start in however long. It didn't work, but he was no worse than Cook.

We controlled the game from about the 15th Minute, but we never looked like scoring. I don't remember their keeper making a proper save.

It's not doomsday. We have plenty of time to get back on track. But that was shite....

 

Agree your comments about Richards. Thought over 90 mins he was mom and he seems to be developing nicely. Also agree there is a long season ahead but this was not the first time GA has cocked up with team selection. I'm certainly not calling for his head but he has to take note of the *@?$ ups and even though he is experienced, he has to learn. Vadaine tries his best and I am sure he works hard in training but when we pump the ball for him to head, his timing is non existent. On the rare occasions he gets the timing right, he has no idea where the ball is going to go. Saturday, we dropped 3 points that we should have had easily but there were also plenty of positives and as someone mentioned earlier in the forum, we have to take these on board and play to OUR strengths.

 

There are two striking positions up for grabs

Cook and an another we play 3-5-2 ……So who would would you get rid of out of Cook, Kavanagh, Oliver.,

Sanderson isn’t ours so you suggest get rid of Cook as well?

Who else are the three Strikers?

 

Oliver, Smith and Sanderson. Sanderson not being ours will be the easiest one to offload.

 

I'm assuming he meant Oliver, Smith and Sanderson but out of everyone but Cook there's only Sanderson that's shown her can score in this division. It's bizarre that partnership with Cook wasn't given more time to flourish.

 

Absolutely agree, the couple of times they played it took the weight off Cook.

I’m not counting Smith in any equation, too lightweight, hamstrings are knacked, ( notice how he’s strapped up thighs even for short cameos.)

We don’t play kids every game so he’s a non start ever.

 

You'll remember good old Norman Corner 6'2" I believe and didn't always win headers but he did win loads of free kicks because he got himself into positions where the defenders either won the header or to gave away a foul.

 

Trouble is Dave , you don’t get those fouls at all nowadays. You only have to watch corners and set pieces, never mind long balls to Cook. It’s a free for all grappling session . The rule makers are on their arse!

 

There's a lot to be said for those who have played the game not merely at a professional level to be more involved with the making of new rules, the offside law is an ass, IMO it's made a simple call far too complicated and unnecessary, and frustrating for both players and the paying public is fans.

 

Hand ball is another farce.
Two different interpretations in Europe. Arsenal lost last week due to a pen that was given because a ball hit a knee and moved 12” onto a hand.

Its handball when hand hits ball, not ball hits hand.,. Refs in our division rarely give it at all!

Don’t get me going on keepers !

 

What about 'keepers mate?

 

I counted 45 seconds for a keeper once at VP. 45 seconds.....

 

No team have to worry about playing city
Our attacking play is predictable
We leave lots of empty space in midfield
We don’t have a plan B
Plan C is just go individually hung ho

 

I’ll let you work it out

It started by Pickford . No respect for him at all these days ., and he’s accident prone ie poor . Far better in the Prem than him .

 

Big Norman was a one off (RIP)
Never did much for City but always admirably put in the effort
He trained us as a school team, seemed an absolute giant in those days
Always remember him teaching us how to score penalties saying this is how to take one placed the ball and demanded we watched carefully @Idlebantamin goal promptly saved it
Great Days !!!